Montréal Pride will organize the first edition of Canada Pride from August 11 to 20, 2017, as a nation-wide celebration of Canada’s LGBT movement, reaffirming the position of Montréal and of Canada as leaders in LGBT rights. Montréal Pride, the largest Pride festival in the Francophone world, will host the festive and inspiring ten-day event to welcome Canada and the world to Montréal as it marks the 375th anniversary of the city’s founding and the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.

Unlike Montréal Pride’s annual festival, which is held over seven days, the Canada Pride Montréal 2017 program of events in 2017 will span ten days, including two full weekends of activities, similar to WorldPride and EuroPride. The program will include two days of sports activities during the first weekend of celebrations and a major national conference on LGBT rights.

An initiative of Montréal Pride, Canada Pride will be held in a different Canadian city every four years. The project presented by Montréal Pride received unanimous support from Canadian Pride representatives from across the country at Fierté Canada Pride’s annual general meeting, which was held in Saskatoon in February 2015.

This event will:

Ensure national visibility for the Canadian Pride movement;

Promote the advancements of LGBT rights during the conference;

Celebrate the 375th anniversary of Montréal, the 150th anniversary of Canada and the 50th of Expo 67;

Showcase Montréal and promote its unique character and history.

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What is Canada Pride?

A major event to raise the general public’s awareness about the Canadian Pride movement and its leading role in the protection of human rights

An opportunity to increase visibility of the Canadian Pride movement

A unifying nationwide event

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Why 2017?

In 2017, Canada will celebrate the following milestones:
– Montréal’s 375th anniversary– Canada’s 150th anniversary– The 50th anniversary of Expo 67 in Montréal

An opportunity to showcase Montréal’s and Canada’s diverse and unique cultures

The perfect time to take advantage of the momentum of 2017 celebrations to build a legacy for the Pride movement

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Our Goals

To ensure national visibility for the Canadian Pride movement

To promote the advancements of LGBT rights during the conference

To showcase a different Canadian city every four years and promote its unique character and history

To offer an inclusive high-caliber event that’s open to all

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Legacy

A recurring festival that promotes and celebrates LGBT achievements in Canada

A new opportunity to highlight one of Canada’s vibrant destinations every 4 years

A new window on our diversity and a way to position ourselves as an example in the advancement of human rights and equality around the world

Preliminary Schedule

Day 1 — Monday, August 14, 2017
LGBT RIGHTS IN MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC, CANADA AND THE WORLD

Day 2 — Tuesday, August 15, 2017
LGBT FAMILIES
TRANS RIGHTS

Day 3 — Wednesday, August 16, 2017
LGBT AT WORK
YOUTH, SPORTS

In 2017, programming for Montréal Pride will particularly focus on highlighting the contributions of LGBT communities to the history and development of Montréal and Canada over the past 375 and 150 years.

With an impressive lineup of outdoor and free programming, the creation of a second outdoor venue to host larger shows and international artists — in addition to Place Émilie-Gamelin — a three-day conference on the advancement of LGBT rights here and abroad, a food fair on Sainte-Catherine Street to unite the two sites, a grandiose Community Day and a special Parade for this unique edition, Canada Pride Montréal 2017 will be bring people together more than ever. We expect an attendance of 777,777 spectators at more than 125 events over 10 days.

THE HOUSE OF PRIDE

The House of Pride, a large pavilion right in the heart of the festivities, will enable representatives of Canada’s Prides to meet, celebrate and work together, but above all, to educate Canadians about the Pride the movement over the last 150 years.

Highlighting Canada’s extraordinary advances in LGBT rights, the pavilion will be open, free to the public and will showcase every one of Canada’s Prides with an extraordinary photo exhibit.

A stage will allow for non-stop entertainment featuring several artists from one coast to the other.

Tourisme Montréal is delighted to support Canada Pride Montréal 2017, which is certain to attract visitors from across the country and around the world as they discover – or rediscover – Montréal’s legendary hospitality and joie de vivre.

Yves Lamumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal

Throughout its history, Montréal has positioned itself as an agent of change and an example to follow among the world’s major cities. We are delighted to continue this tradition by having a large-scale event like Canada Pride Montréal 2017 be created here as part of the celebrations for our 375th anniversary.

Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal

Montréal takes pride in being a diverse city that champions the advancement of LGBT rights. A reflection of these qualities, Canada Pride Montréal 2017 will offer a rich social, gastronomic, sporting and festive program. This great celebration will also welcome hundreds of thousands of tourists to our beautiful city.

Gilbert Rozon, Commissioner for the Celebrations of Montréal’s 375th anniversary